I have this exact set and I am loving it. Aside from a slight magenta push in the greyscale while the set was breaking in (100 to 200 hours) it has a beautiful image. It seems to be working out that push now (I honestly think this is a Samsung thing and it's just what their sets push towards). The black level is decent, there are probably better sets for that out there but I find it to have a nice balanced image. When a disc has a good transfer you can really tell. The smart TV part is pretty cool too. It has it's own browser. 3D works very well although I haven't really used that much it's still a nice bonus. Also I've found this Samsung plasma to be far better at not getting bad image retention than my previous Panasonic that was actually quite bad with it. If you have any specific questions I'd be glad to answer them.

I'm 110% happy with my PN51E550
I have this set in a light-controlled dark home theater room and optimized using
the Disney WoW disc. These are major factors. It now exceeds my best expectations.

This unit has a very long break-in time. It goes from just okay to incredible.
Four months in and watching the 8K-mastered Samsara, it produces the most amazingly detailed and accurate picture I have ever seen on a display, and this is my third HDTV. My first one was ISF calibrated.

The supplied 3D glasses are poorly designed and uncomfortable. It may have been that particular disc, but these glasses caused the only problem I've had with with 3D eyestrain.
I bought comfortable rechargeable glasses from quantum3dglasses.com for $50-- well worth the price.
I can't say this set is better than the Panasonic equivalent. I haven't seen that one. But I look forward to years of excellence, which is great for me because I have a very limited income and I was able to pull together the money for this "entry level" display.

Yes.
That's what I had when I bought this one, a 2008 40" LCD Sammy LN4065F 60hz.
I've been able to compare them after the Plasma was broken in as I got ready to sell the old one-- making it look as good as it gets.

Definition, color accuracy, grey scale, all superior on the Plasma. Which is not to say the old Samsung is a poor product.

The old Sammy has clipping on the white end.
The Plasma retains subtle 'whites' to brightest-bright. The blacks, in a dark room, are like the inside of a cow at the bottom of a mine shaft. Well.... maybe not quite that dark. But black enough.

Last edited by Beaucamper; 02-26-2013 at 10:32 PM.
Reason: needs title

I got mine from IBT in Chicago. Getting it from so far away kept me from sending it back when it didn't meet my expectations, before it was burned in. They charge for shipping a return. Amazon has has a few more in stock.

It's nice to have it brought right to your door. If you get one be sure to read up on proper handling of Plasmas. They are more easily damaged in handling than LCDs. Somehow I was able to get mine out of the box an up on a platform by myself. I'm pretty strong for a cat.

Also FYI: Plasmas are not as bright overall as LCDs. They are plenty bright enough to meet excellent image standards, but you can't blaze them up. They're not good for watching outdoors in Death Valley
at noon in August.

So this set would be a definite upgrade over my regular 1080p 60hz Samsung lcd?

600Hz Vs. 60Hz yeah
Plasma Vs. LCD - if you have the right viewing environment almost always take plasma

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I had the e550 for 9 days before I took it back for dead pixels. Now the panasonic UT50. Both have great picture quality and blacks and both have the same level of 3D from what I could tell. Only difference is the Panny blacks lose detail in a bright room and the Samsungs entire screen gets washed out. Turn the lights out they're both great. Would have got another but that was the last in stock. Now that I've had both glad its the UT50. If only for the better bright room viewing. Can't go wrong with either.

That's why the ST50 is a nicer display since it has the Louvre filter so blacks stay pretty black with lights on, it's also a little brighter than the UT, and has built in wifi like the e550. At $799, the 50" St50 would be my choice, but like i said, at $699 the e550 is not a bad buy assuming it's new in box.